The Origin: Mikao Usui

Reiki was developed by Mikao Usui, a Japanese Buddhist practitioner born in 1865 in the Gifu prefecture of Japan. The commonly told story — that Usui received his method after a 21-day fast and meditation on Mount Kurama in 1922 — appears in most lineages, though the details vary by tradition. What is consistently documented is that Usui founded a healing society in Tokyo called Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai and began teaching his system of energy work there.

Usui’s method emphasized not only the laying of hands but also a set of principles for daily living — five precepts that framed Reiki as a practice of character as much as healing. Translated loosely: do not anger, do not worry, be grateful, work diligently, be kind to others. These principles remain central to traditional Japanese Reiki practice today.

Chujiro Hayashi and the Clinical Framework

One of Usui’s senior students, Chujiro Hayashi, was a naval officer and physician who systematized Reiki practice further. Hayashi established a Reiki clinic in Tokyo and developed more detailed hand position sequences than those Usui had outlined. His approach was more clinical and structured, and it is largely through Hayashi’s lineage that Western Reiki developed.

Hawayo Takata and the Western Lineage

The bridge between Japanese Reiki and the Western world was Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii. Takata received treatment at Hayashi’s Tokyo clinic in the 1930s for a serious illness and credited Reiki with her recovery. She trained extensively under Hayashi, brought the practice back to Hawaii, and eventually became the first Reiki Master in the Western world.

Takata taught Reiki widely in North America from the 1940s through the 1970s and trained 22 Reiki Masters before her death in 1980. Virtually all Western Reiki lineages trace back through one of those 22 masters. She adapted certain elements of the practice for Western audiences — decisions that later generated some controversy but also helped establish Reiki as a serious professional discipline.

The Branching of Traditions

After Takata’s death, variations in practice and teaching methodology multiplied. Today there are dozens of distinct Reiki lineages and styles, including Usui Shiki Ryoho (most directly descended from Takata’s teaching), Jikiden Reiki (a Japanese lineage emphasizing a return to Hayashi’s original approach), and Karuna Reiki, among many others. The three-tier training structure — Reiki I, II, and Master — is common across most Western lineages, though what is covered at each level varies considerably.

Reiki Today

Reiki is now practiced in over 100 countries and has moved into mainstream healthcare settings — offered at major cancer centers, hospitals, and palliative care programs. The Cleveland Clinic, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Memorial Sloan Kettering are among the institutions that have incorporated Reiki into patient care programs.

Curious about experiencing Reiki for yourself? find a Reiki practitioner near you and see what it is like.

For those who want to go deeper into Reiki’s origins, books on Usui Reiki and the original teachings are widely available. (Amazon affiliate link — we earn a small commission at no cost to you.)

Reiki Works

Reiki Works shares clear, well-researched information about Reiki, Shamballa, and energy healing to help you make informed decisions about your wellness journey. We’re part of the CrystalWind.co family of holistic wellness resources, and you can find more energy healing articles in the Reiki section on CrystalWind.ca.